At Lakewood High School, the “vision of a Lakewood student” is more than just a mantra. Junior James Babson brings this vision to life through photography. By snapping pictures of student experiences, he captures the true essence of Lakewood High School.
The students at Lakewood High School know they can count on Babson to get the best shots. “He not only captures awesome action shots, but he also catches the teams and their huddles and their bond. He can say more with a picture than most can with words,” said sophomore Sophia Kovach. Babson shows up to as many events as he can and tries to include everyone in his shots.
But who is the man behind the lens? Babson said, “I got into photography because of my mentor Sebastian Shafer, a 2025 graduate. He took me under his wing and really helped me with the little things.”
After watching Shafer, Babson was inspired. “Seeing how fun it looked, always being on the sidelines, right next to the action, and up close with the players,” he said.
Babson also finds inspiration in established photographers. “Evan Farrell is the photographer I look up to most. Coming from similar backgrounds, he is now doing national-level photography, and I hope to do the same,” he said.
Babson hopes to be the inspiration for other young photographers in the future. “Shoot anything and everything. Don’t niche down on one thing. And don’t limit yourself to other people’s standards,” Babson said. “Find your own style and what works for you, while being open to advice from others.”
Babson has also faced hardships during his professional journey. “I always face challenges that the public doesn’t see,” he said, “My average gallery from two cameras is over 1500 photos per game/event, and it takes a good amount of time to edit and upload them for posting and purchasing abilities.”
However, through it all, he still has so much love for his craft. He pushes through the difficult parts and blesses the students and parents at Lakewood High School with his photographs.
There are pros and cons to the photography that Babson does. One of his favorite aspects of the job is capturing the story behind the player. “From tough moments, big wins, pep rallies, to breaking records, everyone’s story is being portrayed through the lens,” Babson said. “Even at the end of the season, it’s reassuring to see that I helped tell their story. To see my pictures being featured in their posts just shows that I am a part of their experience.”
Babson’s talent is well known throughout the Lakewood community, gaining respect from veteran local photographers like Bill Fraunfelder, an LHS alumnus and parent. Fraunfelder’s photography origins are rooted in his family, but he now also helps to capture LHS students’ lives. “I had kids. Every parent dabbles in photography when their children are tiny and adorable. My role and love for photography grew from that,” Fraunfelder said. Like many parents, Fraunfelder wanted to capture the moments of his children, and now he helps to capture the lives of LHS students each day.
Fraunfelder relates to parents who feel the stress of taking pictures, videos, and seeing their children compete in real time. “I noticed that a lot of other parents were taking pictures but not sharing them. I thought if I took the time to capture the moments, I would be able to share them, not only with our school’s team but even the components,” Fraunfelder said. He believes that the photography business is a great service to not only the students, but the parents and staff as well.
Fraunfelder admires Babson’s work and appreciates the tenacity of Lakewood students. “I take great pride in all the amazing efforts and initiatives I see Lakewood students pursue,” Fraunfelder said. “I think James does an excellent job portraying the vision of a Lakewood Student.”
Fraunfelder offers his own advice to aspiring photographers: “Keep honoring your craft and expanding your creativity. Oftentimes, it is your best consumers who push you into trying new areas, regardless of talent.”
Students at Lakewood High School are lucky to have someone like Babson whom they can count on to document their most important moments. Babson gives all students a voice and gives them memories to look back on down the line. The epitome of the vision of the Lakewood graduate, Babson’s work is beyond valued at the school.
